Bab 60: The Avengers ( Part 3 )
The scene in the plaza was extremely eerie, a grim atmosphere cloaked the environment as the citizens were struck with fear as they tried to move away, sensing the impending danger.
Loki stood at its center, a commanding and almost regal presence in his Asgardian attire. His emerald green cape swayed lightly in the evening breeze, and his scepter pulsed with a foreboding glow as he confidently looked out to the crowd.
The crowd were terrified as they all shuffled away, screaming as they saw him closing in on them. Loki himself had a cold, cruel smirk on his lips, raising his scepter high and slamming its base into the ground, clones of him appearing all around the various exits.
"Kneel," Loki commanded, his voice resonating with unearthly authority. The civilians hesitated, a few glancing at one another as if silently seeking courage. His eyes flashed dangerously, "I said, kneel!"
The demand struck like a thunderclap. Reluctantly, they all obeyed, out of fear and apprehension, lowering themselves until their foreheads nearly touched the ground.
Loki stepped up onto the elevated platform, the clink of his boots echoing ominously. The entire plaza was silent, to the point everyone could hear a pin drop. Everyone held their breaths out of fear as they gazed towards Loki.
"Is this not simpler?" he asked, his tone mocking as he spread his arms wide, holding the Scepter gleefully, "Is this not your natural state? It's the unspoken truth of Humanity. That you crave subjugation. Your identity....You were made to be ruled. In the end, you will always kneel."
A stillness followed his words, the weight of fear binding the crowd in silence. People looked at each-other, fear in their bodies as they prayed to the gods internally to save them.
But then, an old man rose. His frail frame seemed insignificant against Loki's towering presence, but his defiance was palpable.
"Not to men like you," the man said, his voice steady despite the danger.
Loki tilted his head, amusement flickering in his expression. He chuckled and gripped his scepter that trailed wisps of energy, his gaze locked on the man as he spoke, "There are no men like me."
"There are always men like you," the old man replied firmly, his tone carrying the weight of a lifetime's worth of conviction as he affirmed his standing.
Loki's smirk hardened into a sneer, looking to the wider crowd with an arrogant grin, "Look to your elder people. Let him be an example." He raised his scepter, its tip charging with a burst of deadly energy before it shot off.
Before the blast could crash into the old man, Steve landed on the ground, raising his shield and redirecting the energy blast back to Loki.
The Asgardian couldn't react quick enough, and the energy blast crashed into him, sending him tumbling backwards onto the ground and into the crowd. Loki's eyes snapped in anger, as he looked up, spotting Captain America confidently striding towards him.
"You know," Steve said, standing tall as he addressed Loki, "the last time I was in Germany and saw a man standing above everybody else., we ended up disagreeing."
Loki narrowed his eyes, his disdain evident as he slowly stood up, his grip on his Scepter growing firmer, "A soldier...The man out of time. How quaint."
Steve raised his shield, his stance firm, "The guy who disagreed with me didn't end well. Care to try your luck?"
Before Loki could respond, the air crackled with an otherworldly energy. The vibrant greens and golds of his magic were suddenly overshadowed by a towering wall of shimmering purple light that erupted in front of him, cutting him off from the civilians and isolating him with Steve Rogers.
The wall wasn't solid in the traditional sense; it rippled like liquid starlight, cosmic and divine, with swirling patterns that suggested the vastness of the universe.
It loomed tall and impenetrable, radiating a quiet but commanding power that seemed to hum in defiance of Loki's presence.
Loki's expression darkened, his smug confidence faltering as he stared at the spectacle, "What trickery is this?" he hissed, his grip on the scepter tightening. He shot an energy blast at the wall, but it was just absorbed, deepening his confusion.
The crowd, now shielded by the mysterious barrier, murmured in awe and confusion. The old man who had stood against Loki remained rooted in place, gazing at the wall with a mix of astonishment and gratitude.
Then, they ran, their fear replaced by excitement and freedom as they finally escaped Loki's grasp, moving to the nearby authorities who had stationed themselves there to help.
Steve's eyes flicked briefly to the wall, wondering if this was another one of Maxim's unique abilities before he turned back to Loki. His stance remained unwavering, "Not so untouchable now, are you?"
Loki's lips curled into a snarl, "This is no mortal magic," he muttered, stepping back to assess his surroundings.
Behind him, the shadows twisted and elongated, slithering across the ground like a sentient creature before it coalesced into a humanoid form.
"Looking for me?" Maxim's voice cut through the tension, shadowy and cold, devoid of emotion.
Loki whirled around, his scepter raised, only to be greeted by Maxim's imposing figure. His sleek, spectral suit glinted faintly in the light, and the electric purple glow of his visor burned like twin stars in the void where his face should have been.
"You dare interfere, mortal?" Loki spat, his voice laced with fury and disbelief.
Maxim tilted his head slightly as he spoke, "Mortal? You're not the only one with divine tricks, Loki." He took a step forward, his form seeming to flicker like a shadow in the wind, "But I prefer my actions to speak louder than my arrogance."
Loki sneered, his confidence returning, "Very well, let's see what you mortals can do."
With a flick of his scepter, Loki sent a burst of energy toward them. Steve raised his shield to block it while Maxim dissolved into shadows, reappearing instantly behind Loki.
He struck with a blade conjured from pure darkness, aiming for Loki's exposed back.
Loki whirled around, his reflexes faster than expected, parrying with his scepter. "Impressive," he admitted, his tone laced with irritation. "But you'll find I am not so easily bested."
Steve tossed his shield, having it crashing against Loki's chest and bouncing back to his hand as the duo engaged the Asgardian.
Maxim's hand slowly swirled, and a sharp Katana appeared in his hand. 'Yamato', a blade he had gotten from the Vergil template, its edge impossibly sharp.
He darted forward, vanishing into the shadows mid-step and reappearing beside Loki, his katana arcing toward the Asgardian's side. Loki spun just in time, meeting the attack with his scepter. The collision sparked with raw power, sending a ripple of force outward.
"You're fast," Loki admitted, his voice laced with disdain as he shoved Maxim back with a surge of green energy, "But you lack the strength of a god."
Maxim just chuckled as his glowing visor locking onto Loki. His tone was cold, cutting through the tension. "That's quite funny coming from you."
With a flick of his wrist, shimmering Mirage Blades materialized around Maxim, spectral swords forged from his energy. They hovered like a deadly halo before launching toward Loki in a coordinated assault.
Loki's smirk faltered as he swung his scepter to deflect the ethereal weapons, the effort forcing him to shift his focus. One blade grazed his armor, leaving a faint scorch, while another embedded itself in the ground near his feet, pulsing with energy.
Taking advantage of the opening, Steve Rogers charged, his shield raised high. "Heads up!" he called, hurling the shield with calculated precision. It spun through the air like a missile, slamming into Loki's scepter and knocking it aside.
Loki stumbled back, momentarily disarmed, as Steve caught the returning shield and closed the distance. The two exchanged blows, with Steve's combat skills slowly overpowering and frustrating Loki.
Maxim seized the opportunity, slashing downward with Yamato, forcing Loki to pivot to avoid the blade, only to face a barrage of Mirage Blades closing in from all sides.
Loki growled, summoning a burst of green energy to dispel the blades, but the effort left him open.
"Got you," Maxim muttered as he shadow-stepped behind Loki, striking with a quick, precise cut aimed at his legs. The Yamato's edge sliced cleanly, forcing Loki to stagger as he turned with a snarl.
"You insolent mortals!" Loki bellowed, his arrogance cracking under the relentless assault. He slammed the base of his scepter into the ground, creating a shockwave that sent both Maxim and Steve skidding back.
Steve quickly regained his footing, raising his shield as Loki charged him. Their weapons collided, the force of Loki's scepter meeting the vibranium shield sending sparks flying.
"You talk too much," Steve retorted, shoving Loki back with sheer determination.
Maxim, now circling like a predator, took advantage of Loki's focus on Steve. He raised Yamato, and with a flick, opened a portal in the air behind Loki. A series of shadowy slashes emerged from the portal, forcing Loki to split his attention once more.
The distraction worked. Steve slammed his shield into Loki's chest with all his strength, sending the Asgardian stumbling toward Maxim. Without hesitation, Maxim surged forward, his fist flying towards Loki's face as he punched him, sending the Asgardian crashing to the floor.
Loki rolled across the ground, looking up as his nose was bleeding heavily, his face bruised as his eyes were wide with shock, staggering before he snarled at the duo, "You will regret this," he hissed, his tone venomous.
Steve raised his shield, standing firm beside Maxim. "The only one regretting anything here is you," he said, his voice steady.
Maxim's visor glinted ominously as he tilted his head toward Loki, "Stand down, if you fight again, we won't hold back."
For the first time, Loki hesitated. His gaze darted between Steve and Maxim, both ready for another fight and the Scepter that was far from being in arms reach. Growling, he surrendered, leaving the plaza silent once more.
Maxim sheathed Yamato with a calm precision, the sound of the blade clicking into place breaking the tension. Steve looked at him, breathing heavily but offering a small nod, "Nice teamwork."
Maxim turned, his form flickering slightly as the Mirage Blades faded. "Yeah you too." His voice carried a faint edge, though there was a glimmer of respect in his tone.
Bab 61: Battling Thor!
The dust had finally begun to settle in the plaza. The various civilians had safely evacuated behind the Cosmic Divide to the police services whom had arrived to protect them.
Soon, the shimmering Cosmic Barrier Maxim had conjured faded. Loki sat on the ground, his scepter far from his grasp while his face was bloodied and bruised, twisted with frustration and disdain at his defeat.
Steve adjusted his stance, lowering his shield but keeping it ready. Maxim stood still, his glowing visor fixed on Loki, unreadable and imposing before he turned around, sensing something coming in quick in the distance.
The distant hum of an approaching engine grew louder until the familiar silhouette of Iron Man descended from the sky. With a dramatic landing that kicked up a small cloud of debris, Tony Stark's voice broke the silence.
"Looks like I was late to the party," he quipped, his helmet retracting to reveal his smirking face. He looked around at the destruction, then at Loki, who was glaring daggers at him. "Let me guess, horns over there didn't RSVP?"
Steve shook his head, his lips twitching into a faint smile. "Nice of you to show up, Stark. We had it handled."
Maxim's tone was calm, almost bored, "It wasn't much of a challenge."
Tony turned to Maxim, his brows raising slightly as he studied the mysterious figure. "And you must be the new guy. You don't look like you're with S.H.I.E.L.D."
Maxim didn't respond, his visor glinting faintly in the fading sunlight. Tony shrugged, looking back at Steve, "Well, as much as I'd love to stick around for introductions, I'm guessing we've got a prisoner to escort. Shall we?"
The trio moved toward the waiting Quinjet, with Loki reluctantly in tow. He sneered but didn't resist, his arrogance tempered by the bruises and the clear superiority of his captors.
Once aboard, Loki was seated and restrained, his scepter locked away securely.
As the Quinjet lifted off, Tony and Steve fell into conversation, their banter light but carrying an undercurrent of tension.
Maxim kept his Combat Gear on, remaining silent as he looked out of the window, thinking about what will lay ahead.
'That wasn't a real fight,' he mused in his head, thinking back to the battle.
'Steve made it too easy. Loki's not weak, but this… this was nothing.' He thought, In that battle, Maxim was barely able to stretch his legs before Loki was already defeated. For an Asgardian, he was quite weak at the current moment.
'Let's see how good Thor does,' Maxim thought, looking back to Loki and seeing that the Asgardian had regained his emotional control, not with a deadpan expression on his face as he sat quietly.
The Quinjet hummed steadily as it soared through the darkening sky. Then, suddenly, the tranquil hum of the Quinjet was interrupted by the distant rumble of thunder.
Maxim's head snapped up, his visor narrowing slightly as he looked toward the storm clouds gathering on the horizon.
Steve noticed the change in atmosphere and turned to Loki, who seemed to have a rather uncomfortable reaction, "What's the matter?" he asked, his voice laced with suspicion. "You scared of a little lightning?"
Loki chuckled darkly, leaning back in his seat with an air of smugness, "I'm not overly fond of what follows," he replied, his tone calm.
As if on cue, a blinding flash of lightning illuminated the sky, followed by a deafening crack of thunder. The Quinjet shuddered slightly as turbulence rippled through the air.
Before anyone could react, a sudden impact shook the jet, and the echo of a figure landing on its roof rippled across the environment. Loki's smirk grew wider, while Maxim just chuckled internally.
Steve and Tony rushed to their gear, Steve picking up his shield and looking up to see Tony already having placed his headgear on, moving to the exit and opening the Quinjet's entrance.
"What are you doing?" Steve inquired, but Tony didn't listen.
~CLANG~
The echo of Thor landing on the ramp was noticeable, but Maxim stayed behind, just relaxing as he allowed things to play out as they did in the movie, both to keep things more consistent, and to get some serious battle training with Thor.
Tony tried to use his blasters, but Thor threw Mjolnir to Tony, sending him crashing into Steve and leaving them both tumbling onto the ground. The God of Thunder didn't waste words, grabbing Loki by the collar with a growl and flying off into the distance.
Maxim walked towards the edge of the open hatch, staring into the flaring thunderstorm that begun to dissipate.
"Another Asgardian?" Natasha asked from the Pilot's seat.
"Doesn't matter, if he frees Loki or kills him, the Tesseract is gone." Stark said, standing back up, his tone more cold than before.
As he finished speaking, Maxim's visor turned toward him, the faint purple glow intensifying, "I'll handle the new guy. You and Cap take care of Loki."
Before Steve could protest, Maxim's form flickered, dissolving into a swirl of shadows. He disappeared into the night, leaving only the faint scent of ozone in his wake.
Tony walked up beside Steve, "Did he just Batman his way out of here?"
Steve sighed, shaking his head. "Something like that."
*************************
Thor and Loki were confronting each-other, rage in Thor's eyes as he gripped his Hammer, ready to attack while Loki spoke,
"You need the cube to bring me home, but I've sent it off I know not where." Loki said, his arrogant smirk returning as he confronted Thor.
"You listen well brother~"
~THUD~
Before Thor could react, Maxim burst out of the Shadows, spearing Thor off the cliff and down to the ground below in a brutal fall.
Maxim stood up, his eerie visor staring directly to Thor who had stumbled to his feet angrily, "Do not touch me again!"
An eerie, cold laugh echoed from Maxim as he spoke, "Then don't take my stuff."
"You have no idea what you're dealing with." Thor said as he affirmed his footing, staring directly at Maxim.
"Uh, Shakespeare in the Park? Doth mother know you weareth her drapes?" Maxim said, chuckling in his head as he just copied all of what Tony had said in the movie, cackling at the jokes internally.
Thor meanwhile, ignored the quip as he grew more serious, "This is beyond you, Shadow Man. Loki will face Asgardian justice."
"He give up the Cube he's all yours, until then....Stay out of the way." Maxim said with a chuckle.
Thor's glare darkened as he raised Mjolnir, his grip tightening. "You are bold, mortal, but your arrogance blinds you. Stand down, or I will lay you low."
Maxim's eerie, distorted laugh echoed through the clearing as he crossed his arms, "Go ahead, Thunder Boy. Throw your toy. Let's see what happens."
Thor wasted no time, hurling Mjolnir with all his might. The enchanted hammer shot forward like a lightning bolt, its roar splitting the air.
But Maxim merely stood still, his shadowy form flickering as the hammer passed straight through his chest, hitting a boulder behind him and shattering the boulder to pieces.
Thor's eyes widened in disbelief, "An illusion?"
Maxim tilted his head, the glow of his visor flaring brighter. "Not quite."
Before Thor could react, Maxim's twin pistols, Ebony and Ivory, materialized in his hands. With a flick of his wrists, he unloaded two precise shots, each round glowing faintly with demonic energy.
They struck Thor's arm, forcing him to drop his guard as he roared in pain, crimson streaks marking where the bullets grazed his skin.
Thor glared at his opponent, his voice a deep growl, "You dare to wound the Prince of Asgard?"
Maxim spun his pistols theatrically before holstering them at his sides, "Oh, I dare. But don't worry; I'll patch you up when we're done."
Thor lunged forward, summoning Mjolnir back into his hand. As the hammer soared through the air, Maxim sidestepped, disappearing into a burst of shadows. Thor swung wildly at the flickering afterimages left behind, only to hit nothing but air.
"Gotta say," Maxim's voice echoed from above, "you're not as fast as I thought you'd be. Maybe lay off the wine?"
Thor snarled and launched a bolt of lightning from Mjolnir, illuminating the forest. The blast struck one of Maxim's afterimages, scattering shadows everywhere that turned into stationary clones, disorienting Thor as he looked around for the real one.
Suddenly, Maxim reappeared behind Thor, his katana, Yamato, gleaming with otherworldly energy. With a single, swift stroke, he struck, the blade cutting through the air with a high-pitched ring.
Thor barely turned in time, raising Mjolnir to block, but the sheer force of the strike sent him skidding back.
"Not bad. I almost had to try with that one." Maxim said, trying to trigger Thor even more and make the Asgardian more reckless in his approach.
Thor charged again, his strikes relentless and furious. Each swing of Mjolnir created shockwaves that shook the forest, uprooting trees and sending debris flying.
However, Maxim danced around every attack, his movements fluid and almost mocking.
At one point, Thor brought Mjolnir down with the force of a meteor, aiming to crush Maxim. Instead, Maxim caught the hammer mid-swing with his bare hand, his incorporeal abilities making his grip ghostly yet unyielding.
Thor's jaw tightened, "Impossible."
"Nothing's impossible," Maxim quipped, kicking Thor in the chest and sending him hurtling back.
Thor rolled to his feet, his eyes blazing with fury, but he couldn't react to a Demonic Bullet crashing into his chest, sending him crashing through a multitude of trees and onto the ground.
"Damn Mortal." Thor growled as he slowly stood up, lightning crackled around him as he raised Mjolnir to the sky. The heavens answered his call, sending a colossal bolt of lightning directly toward Maxim.
Maxim didn't flinch. Instead, he thrust Yamato upward, the blade absorbing the lightning into its shimmering edge. He grinned behind his visor, "Thanks for the charge."
With a flick of his wrist, Maxim released the stored energy in a devastating slash of pure power. The shockwave struck Thor head-on, sending him sprawling across the ground.
Thor groaned, struggling to rise. His armor was scorched, his hair disheveled, and his breathing labored. Yet his determination remained unwavering.
Maxim walked toward him slowly, his steps deliberate. "You're tough, I'll give you that. But this isn't a fight you can win. Go back to Asgard, Thunder Boy. Loki's fate isn't in your hands anymore."
Thor clenched his fists, Mjolnir sparking in his grip, "I will not yield to the likes of you." He said, raising Mjolnir once more as the sky turned to a roar of thunder and lightning.
Maxim's tone turned cold, his amusement fading, "Suit yourself." He said, his visor glowing ominously as his hand flicked toward the ground.
A shimmering sphere of purple energy, a Nebula, brimming with cosmic energy, appeared beneath Thor's feet. The Asgardian barely had time to react before the Nebula detonated in a blinding explosion, the force hurling Thor backward like a ragdoll.
He crashed into a massive tree, snapping it in half as he hit the ground with a resounding thud. Groaning, Thor struggled to push himself to his feet, Mjolnir slipping slightly in his grip.
His vision swam as he looked up, watching Maxim step closer, his silhouette wreathed in shadowy tendrils.
"Give it up," Maxim said, his voice calm but firm. "You've got heart, but this fight? It's over."
Thor grit his teeth, forcing himself upright despite the pain, his muscles screaming in protest. His pride wouldn't allow him to surrender, not yet.
"Thor!" a commanding voice echoed through the clearing, sharp and resolute. "Stand down!"
Thor's head snapped toward the source, finding Captain America striding into the fray with his shield at the ready. Behind him, Tony Stark hovered in his Iron Man suit, thrusters whining as he descended, and Loki followed reluctantly, restrained and glaring.
"Enough," Steve continued, his eyes fixed on Thor, "Judging from your words, we're all on the same side here. Loki's been captured. We can do this together."
Thor's chest heaved with labored breaths, his gaze shifting from Steve to Loki, then to Maxim, who stood motionless, watching the exchange with quiet intensity. The tension in the air crackled like static electricity.
Finally, Thor lowered Mjolnir, the storm above dissipating as he let out a frustrated growl. "Very well," he said, his voice tight with suppressed anger. "But know this—Asgard does not forget such insults."
Maxim chuckled softly, the glow of his visor dimming as he turned away. "Noted. Let's move."
Status Power Mingguan
200+ Peringkat
Power 
94 Power
stone 
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